Same-sex marriage Musical for Channel 4

Wedding DayChannel 4 is to mark same-sex marriage becoming legal in England and Wales with Our Gay Wedding: The Musical.

On Saturday 29th March 2014, same-sex marriage will become legal in England and Wales and Channel 4 is marking this historic milestone by offering viewers front row seats at one of the first gay weddings.

But this will be an extraordinary ceremony, the broadcaster states, as the service is to be held as ‘a musical’.

We are proud to be marking a huge milestone for gay rights – a cause that has long been close to Channel 4’s heart. I’m enormously grateful to Benjamin and Nathan for sharing their day with us, and for the talent, creativity and generosity they’re bringing to this amazing piece of work. – John Hay, Commissioning Editor, Arts Channel 4

Wedding RingsGrooms Benjamin Till and Nathan Taylor are writing and staging their entire wedding as a musical – with sung vows, sung readings and show-stopping ensembles featuring the whole congregation of family, friends and special guests.

Stephen Fry will introduce and commentate on Our Gay Wedding: The Musical, which will also feature appearances and songs from some very special surprise guest stars and showbiz legends plus messages sung and spoken from around the world.

The one-off TV musical is not only a celebration of Benjamin and Nathan’s relationship, but also bears witness to a major step forward for gay rights that will see more personal parts of the service interwoven with songs about the historical journey to this point, tributes to the other gay and lesbian couples getting married at the first opportunity and reminders of the struggles faced by those in countries where homosexuality is still a crime.